The term ‘spatial justice’ was first coined in 1990 by political theorist Pieter Liks, who described it as an alternative to the more commonly used terms ‘social justice’ or ‘utilitarianism.’ Rather than seeking only benefits for individual people within a society, spatial justice seeks balance and harmony between social groups that exist beyond just individuals.

Social justice is already practised across many societies throughout history. For example, during the Roman Empire, elites gathered at public parks while lower-class citizens lived outside of the city walls where resources were limited. In other words, those with money had access to better food, health care, education, and entertainment than others who did not.

Utilitarianism, the most common moral philosophy in Western cultures, strives to maximize happiness or benefit for individuals in a group over anything else. By this measure, wealthy people are morally superior to poor people because they have more wealth which can be translated into personal happiness.

However, according to spatial justice theorists, there is no universal definition of what makes someone rich or poor. Even if everyone has the same amount of income, some may live closer to good schools and hospitals than others, creating different levels of wellness and quality of life. As such, social classes based on income alone cannot justify one person’s higher level of well-being over another’s less fortunate state of being.

Who is affected by spatial justice?

As we have seen, social injustice comes in many forms. Health inequalities are one of these, but they can be even more serious than that. We often refer to such injustices as “other-focused” because they primarily affect other people — sometimes directly, but usually indirectly.

Take smoking, for example. Smoking harms only individuals but also has significant negative health impacts on those around them. By lowering their lung function, smokers expose others to higher levels of smoke, which contains harmful chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide and secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS).

Children exposed to heavy levels of SHS face increased risks of respiratory problems and disease later in life. This is particularly important since children under 18 years old cannot give informed consent, so they are especially vulnerable to starting smoking at an earlier age.

In addition to this, studies show that parents who smoke are less likely to seek or maintain appropriate medical care for their children, leading to a greater risk of illness and poor outcomes. Parents who smoke may also put themselves at additional risk from exposure to toxic substances in the air and water.

Social ills like poverty and discrimination spread beyond individual health to have much wider effects on society. These include lower-quality education and employment opportunities, limited access to healthy living environments and resources, and unequal trust in institutions and systems. All of these contribute to poorer mental health and overall well-being.

How can we address spatial justice?

A lot of people have discussed how important it is to give back to your community, but this doesn’t mean only staying in your community and giving back there. It also means investing in communities that don’t enjoy the same level of social capital as yours does.

We need to think about our investments from a new perspective – what are we leaving behind? What spaces will be vacant because of our spending decisions?

This isn’t an easy question to answer, which is why most rich people were never really asked if they wanted to be wealthy. But we should ask ourselves whether we want to remain in affluent areas or not.

By living close to where services are available, you reduce transportation costs and save money by reducing take-out meals. You spend less money on gas too!

And while it may sound cliché, being outside more often helps us reestablish connections with nature and other humans. We need those interactions for wellness.

Reducing inequality

The concept of spatial justice comes down to one thing: creating environments that are safe, accessible, sustainable, and meaningful for all people. It is reducing or even reversing existing inequalities by changing how we organize our communities and societies.

This can mean improving access to quality education, health care, transportation, and other services for marginalized groups such as low-income individuals and minorities. It can include upgrading infrastructure like water systems and green spaces so that everyone has adequate resources to enjoy life.

It can also be increased opportunities for social engagement through activities and programs that promote inclusivity, respect, and empathy.

The term “spatial” refers to where an individual lives, what kind of job they have, and whether their community is wealthy or poor. Only then can you determine if they are experiencing economic, racial, gender, or religious equality.

Creating spaces for community

Recent trends in interior design have focused on creating accessible, socially responsible environments. This is very well done, as it gives people of all income levels access to beautiful surroundings that promote wellness and self-confidence.

Interior designers use materials and textures that are familiar to most people and eliminate overly expensive or flashy features. They also ensure there are adequate numbers of libraries and bathrooms and comfortable seating.

These practices reduce stress and help individuals feel more connected to their communities. Healthier living is an excellent way to enhance your quality of life, which can be extended through engaging with others and serving around the world.

Many large corporations now require workplace diversity, not only because it’s a good business practice, but because it boosts employee well-being. Employees who feel included in their workplaces are happier workers.

We need to think about how we structure our society and environment so that everyone has opportunities to enjoy healthy experiences. That’s what makes us strong as a community.

It’s important to note that social responsibility isn’t just something high-income people do — investing in affordable housing or donating money to charities is a worthy goal no matter where you live. Studies show that giving back is one of the top motivators for happiness.

Designing for spatial justice takes into account how different groups are situated within our cities and buildings, and creates safe, supportive environments for them.

Understanding place

A key part of designing with social justice in mind is understanding what it means to understand your audience, and then using that knowledge to create spaces they will want to visit, explore, and connect within their community or area.

This includes understanding how people feel about certain places in their neighbourhood or town, as well as things like whether there are adequate public services available at this location.

It also means knowing which types of businesses exist near where people live, work, and spend time so you can use that information to help them find what they need – whether it’s through providing service listings or promoting business locations and events.

Running an online tip sheet or helping out at the local grocery store is one way to contribute to creating a socially responsible space.

Visualizing space

We as humans have a lot of concepts about what constitutes “space” or how to use it. For example, we understand that having less than 5% of the surface area of a room covered in furniture makes space feel limited.

We also know that leaving more space empty can make someone feel excluded. On the other hand, people who are surrounded by lots of things do not often feel alone or lack personal space.

These are just some examples of how our perception of space is influenced by culture. Different cultures define space differently, which was a major factor when discussing spatial justice.

In cultures where space is very economically valuable (like those with large oil resources), they will devote vast expanses of land too expensive buildings or cars. These spaces are rarely used by anyone but the wealthy, creating externalization. This way, only rich people use the space and nothing else.

Another way to address internalized social classism is by giving out adequate amounts of personal space so that no one feels overly closed in or restricted.

Examples of this include taking up little room when sitting down, offering your seat to others, or even getting up and moving if someone wants to talk to you. All of these create an open-ended feeling like there is never a limit to the conversation unless you put one in place yourself.

Designing for social change begins with understanding how society works and how individuals contribute to inequality.

Connecting with nature

One way to connect with nature is by engaging in activities that promote environmental awareness. This can include taking part in outdoor sports, hiking or walking tours, swimming at local beaches or rivers, and even just going outside and spending time under the sun!

Many companies have incorporated ecological themes into their logos and brands – look around you right now and you’ll see lots of products with green shapes, plants as decorations, and sustainability messages.

Logos are an integral part of any company's brand, so why not use this opportunity to add some value? For example, Apple uses circles as its main motif because they represent universal unity. The leaves come out of the circle to symbolize growth, while the square represents balance.

By incorporating these concepts into your lifestyle, you will make yourself feel comfortable and confident in using eco-friendly materials and settings. It also gives you a sense of satisfaction when you appreciate the natural beauty all around you.

Recognizing and respecting the culture

A lot of people seem to have this idea that design is only meaningful if it’s trying to promote some kind of capitalist, imperialist ideology. I think that’s wrong!

Design can be powerful in its own right, even when it challenges cultural norms or stereotypes about what things are “good” or “important.” We see this all the time with fashion — new trends come along that challenge society’s ideas about how bodies should look.

In other words, there are ways that design can influence how we perceive the world around us, which can then lead to changes beyond just aesthetics. This is why political movements like feminism have always incorporated logos and fonts to convey their message.

This article will talk more about one such organization that uses graphic design to help spread messages related to social justice.